Title: Vulnerability assessment of drought prone areas in Bangladesh through extreme temperature modelingAbstract:Bangladesh is commonly known as a disaster prone country and drought is one of the frequent natural phenomenon. A series of daily maximum temperature data from drought prone areas such as Bogra, Dinajpur, Ishsurdi, Faridpur and Rangpur districts over the period 1964-2013 years are analyzed in this study. For modelling purposes annual maximum temperature data fitted to generalize extreme value (GEV) distributions and block maxima approach are applied. The trend in GEV model also considers due to the existence of temporal trend in daily temperature data. Likelihood ratio statistics are used as a tool to compare models with trend and without trend. Drought risk is computed through the quantile of the best fitted GEV model which is popularly known as return levels.Key words: Drought, Temperature, Generalized extreme value distribution, Non-stationary model and Return levels

Title: Presence of uranium and thorium in zircon assemblages separated from beach sands of Cox’s Bazar, BangladeshAbstract:Beach sands harbor appreciable amount of radioactive elements such as zircon which contains some important and radioactive elements (e.g. uranium, thorium). Very limited quantitative information is available of such elements in the sand of the beaches of Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh. The present study presents application of Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) to quantify uranium and thorium elemental concentration in zircon assemblages from beach placers of Cox’s Bazar. Zircon was separated from beach sands in a mineral processing pilot plant. The separated zircon assemblages were examined by a polarizing petrographic microscope and X-ray diffraction techniques and found that it contained more than 75% pure zircon. Thereafter, uranium and thorium concentrations in zircon were measured by NAA and revealed that zircon contained 94-141 ppm uranium and 127-506 ppm thorium. Therefore, this noticeable amount of uranium and thorium in zircon should be taken in consideration during any mining attempt of the placer minerals present in Cox's Bazar beaches.Key words: Radioactive minerals, Beach placers, Separation flow chart, XRD and Neutron activation analysis

﻿TITLEPresence of uranium and thorium in zircon assemblages separated from beach sands of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

Title: An approach to determine the efficiency of LIBS system in aqueous solution using optical instrumentsAbstract:Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has been applied to determine its Limit of Detection (LOD) in aqueous solution. It was based on only one single-pulse laser system where we used a wood slice as the liquid absorbent to make over liquid sample analysis using the technique of LIBS. Using this approach, it is obvious to achieve good reproducibility and high detection sensitivity. More than twenty readings of the background emission were taken to calculate the LOD. The calculated value of the background intensity (σ) was 42.435 and the value of the gradient (S) of the calibration curve of Pb element in aqueous solution fitted with straight line through origin was 178.57 mg-1L. The LOD was determined and its experimentally calculated value in our study was 712ppb(parts per billion) with orders better than those determined by directly analyzing liquid samples focusing the laser light on a liquid surface In addition, the wood slice is very uncomplicated to handle and this study provides a more sensible approach for rapid and susceptible metal component investigation in aqueous solutions using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy, which is really functional in various fields to analyze metal elements in aqueous solution, especially for monitoring toxic grave metals in aqueous solution.Key words: LIBS, Atomic emission Spectroscopy, Liquid absorbent, Background intensity and Toxic grave metals

﻿TITLEAn approach to determine the efficiency of LIBS system in aqueous solution using optical instruments

Title: Productivity, biochemical indices and antioxidant activity of Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) and Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) in condition of hydroponicsAbstract:Dry raw material of both peppermint and sweet basil grown with the application of different hydroponic methods (cylindrical, gully, continuous, classical) exceeds soil culture 1.2-2.7 and 1.8-2.7 times. At the same time a high output (1.6-3.1 times) of secondary origin bioactive substances was observed in cylindrical and classical hydroponics systems due to the high productivity of peppermint and in the case of basil in cylindrical hydroponics system (1.2-2.9 times). For determining antioxidant activity from different quantity of alcoholic extracts obtained from the mentioned plants the more effective is chosen in peppermint 5.0 mg/ml in which case free radical oxidation process of lipids is repressed from 68-84%, and in case of basil 1.0 mg/ml 23-31%.Key words: Water-stream hydroponics, Peppermint, Sweet basil, Extractives, Antioxidant, Productivity

Title: Responses of IBA on rooting, biomass production and survival of branch cuttings of Santalum album L., a wild threatened tropical medicinal tree speciesAbstract:Clonal propagation is important for the conservation of native, wild and threatening tree species. The study investigates the opportunities of rooting of branch cuttings of Santalum album treated with 0, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8% indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) in a non-mist propagator. A total of four hundreds eighty cuttings were used to assess the rooting ability of this species. The study revealed significant differences (p<0.05) of rooting percent, average root number per cutting and average root length among the treatments. Rooting success varied 1.32-fold (70-92.6%), 3.8-fold (5-19) and 3.1-fold (3.1-9.6 cm) in rooting percentage, average root number per cutting and average root length respectively among the treatments. The maximum and minimum rooting success were observed in T3 and T0 in all cases except in root number per cutting. In this case T2 performed better than others. The result exposed significant differences (p<0.05) of sprouting percent (1.32-fold: 62.3 - 83.3%) among the treatments but no significant difference (p>0.05) of number of sprouts per cutting (2.5-fold: 2-5) and number of leaves per cutting (1.7-fold: 10-17). Maximum and minimum sprouting percent was showed similar fashion of rooting percent. The results also exposed significant differences (p<0.05) of biomass production in adventitious roots and shoots among the treatments. Biomass production was significantly (p<0.01) higher in adventitious shoots than those of roots. The overall survival of rooted cutting was higher in control (90.56%) than others but showed no significant differences (p>0.05) among the treatments. It can be recommended not to use IBA for rooting of branch cuttings of S. album.Key words: Vegetative propagation, Branch cutting, Rooting, Propagator, IBA and Santalum album

﻿TITLEResponses of IBA on rooting, biomass production and survival of branch cuttings of Santalum album L., a wild threatened tropical medicinal tree species

Title: Comparative analysis of the proximate and mineral composition of moringa olerifera roots, leaves and seeds obtained in okigwe imo state NigeriaAbstract:Proximate and mineral compositions were carried out on the leaves, seeds and roots of moringa oleifera obtained from Okigwe, Nigeria. Mineral and proximate compositions were determined using their various methods of analysis. Results of proximate analysis in percentage showed moisture content in the following range; leaves 4.84, seeds 9.56 and roots 6.06, crude protein; leaves 24.94, seeds, 17.94 and roots 12.25, fat content; leaves 11.50, seeds, 12.60 and roots, 2.66 while mineral content still in percentage showed potassium in the roots 0.850, leaves 0.625, seeds 0.950 magnesium; roots 1.64, leaves 1.277 and seeds, 1.094 and calcium; roots 4.22, leaves 2.91 and seeds 2.61. These results showed that for proximate composition, the leaves had higher values followed by the roots and lastly by the seeds for most of the analysis while the mineral value contents showed higher percentages in the roots and the leaves .Even though all the various parts of moringa olerifera are nutritionally valuable the leaves and roots are highly recommended for their higher nutritional values.Key words: Moringa, Fibre, Diet, Cholesterol, Moisture, Mineral, Biofuel

﻿TITLEComparative analysis of the proximate and mineral composition of moringa olerifera roots, leaves and seeds obtained in okigwe imo state Nigeria

Title: Current topics on builders in laundry productsAbstract:The present study aims to contribute with new insights on three main current topics on builders used in laundry products: a) the search for a replacement to sodium tripolyphosphate, b) an efficient system that works under oxidative conditions and c) the effect of a co-surfactant. For regular laundry formulations, we found a non-expected synergistic system which can perfectly replace sodium tripolyphosphate at the same formulation cost. For bleaching formulations, we found one alternative builder for phosphonates replacement, and some natural materials which are worth to be further studied. We also found an unexpected protection effect of the main anionic surfactant when combined with the appropriate co-surfactant without the need of a builder. Key words: Builder, Phosphonates, Tripolyphosphate, Bleaching, Co-surfactant

Title: Temperature, precipitation and net irrigation requirement scenario for major winter crops in the south-eastern BangladeshAbstract:Bangladesh ranked top among the climate vulnerable countries in the world. Climate change is evident since few decades. Changing climate affects the life, property and economy of the country. Among them, agricultural is the most affected sector. Literature suggests that the future climatic condition might affect the agriculture even more adversely. Therefore, considering the economic strength, agriculture based economy and population density, the country needs much effort to adjust with the changing circumstances. A clear and specific understanding of the apprehending changes would certainly assist in preparation to fight against the adverse impact. Aiming to provide updated knowledge about the climate change scenario and future irrigation water demand, this study simulated the temperature, precipitation and net irrigation requirement (NIR) scenario for Boro, Potato and Wheat crop for the south-eastern part of Bangladesh. MAGICC/SCENGENE model was used to simulate local scale temperature and precipitation scenario considering Special Report on Emission and Radiation (SRES) A1B-AIM emission scenario and thereafter simulated NIR based on the temperature and precipitation scenario using the AquqCrop model. The MAGICC/SCENGEN model was calibrated and validated using the observed datasets collected from 12 weather stations of Bangladesh Meteorological Station (BMD). The changes in temperature, precipitation and NIR are estimated based on the 11 year mean values extending from the year 2000 to 2010 (as the base data). The analysis reveals that the south-eastern part of Bangladesh is likely to experience diverse trends of climatic change. The temperature showed a linear trend of increment ranging from 1.4°C to 2.4°C by the year 2100. The changes would not be the same for all season. Winter temperature showed maximum changes as compared to that of base period. On the other hand, the changes in precipitation showed two trends. Precipitation scenarios showed initial increase until 2040 and thereafter decline in 2050. After 2050 the total precipitation is likely continue to increase. However, it showed substantial variability throughout the seasons. The area would receive less rainfall during pre-monsoon, while the precipitation is likely to increase in the post-monsoon. NIR scenario suggests a steady increase for all three winter crops. The NIR might be increased by 10 to 25% depending on the crop types.AquaCrop model estimates the irrigation water requirement based only on soil moisture stress level and carbon-di-oxide (CO2) fertilization.It does not include organic matter depletion, initial moisture stress, impact of salinity etc. Despite this simplicity, the study outcome provides important implications for the policy practitioners to ensure future food security and water management challenges. Key words: Climate change, Net irrigation requirement, MAGICC-SCENGEN, AquaCrop Model, South-East Bangladesh

﻿TITLETemperature, precipitation and net irrigation requirement scenario for major winter crops in the south-eastern Bangladesh